Denver mayoral candidate James Mejia[3] issued a statement today saying the city should slow down on making a deal to relocate the National Western Stock Show to a location near Denver International Airport[4].

Mejia, in his statement, says he disagrees with a deal to move the stock show from its current site to one in Aurora[5].

However, the proposal reported today in The Denver Post[6] says the complex would straddle the border of Denver and Adams counties, placing stock show facilities in Denver and an entertainment complex, including a 1,500-room hotel, in Aurora.

“Significant revenues are expected to be generated by the expanded year-round entertainment complex, hotel, museum and other attractions,” said Berrick Abramson, Mejia’s campaign manager, explaining his candidate’s response.

“(Mejia) believes that the City and County of Denver should examine all possible opportunities to keep the entire revenue-producing potential in the City and County of Denver.”

The 105-year-old stock show runs 16 days each January and has attracted more than 600,000 attendees and 15,000 head of livestock each of the past 14 years.

The Post’s story by business reporter Margaret Jackson says the joint proposal with the National Western Stock Show and Nashville, Tenn.,-based Gaylord Entertainment Co. would also include more than 300,000 square feet of conference space.

The new National Western Stock Show complex would be on about 340 acres in Denver County[7], north of the High Point development that is in Aurora.

The estimated $300 million stock show complex would include two arenas, one with 10,000 seats and one with 5,000 seats; a livestock hall that would host the cattle show during the stock show and trade shows during the rest of the year; and a Western heritage center.

The new stock show complex would be able to host trade shows and equestrian events it now doesn’t have the capacity to handle, officials say.

Stock show officials have been looking for a new location, saying the current site has no room for expansion. They have been considering locations in Aurora, Broomfield and Commerce City[8].

In Jackson’s story, Jack Finlaw, chief of staff for Mayor Bill Vidal[9], says Gaylord Entertainment does not want to be in Denver.

Finlaw said Denver “doesn’t have the ability to provide (Gaylord) with the kind of public financing for hotel development that they need. Aurora would provide Gaylord with (tax increment financing) and other public financing they would need.”

Mejia says that is not true.

“This is a major policy issue and the City of Denver, the NWSS and Gaylord need to consider all options, including financing, before the city would consider letting the NWSS out of its lease,” Mejia writes in his press release.

“I know there has been tremendous frustration on behalf of the National Western to get this problem addressed through past discussions with the City,” Mejia said. “One of my first acts, if I am honored to be elected Mayor, will be to find a solution that will allow the National Western to grow in Denver. I want to open up a conversation with the citizens of Denver, community and business leaders and urban planning professionals to determine a way to grow, improve and most importantly KEEP the National Western in the City and County of Denver.”

National Western’s lease for its existing complex runs until 2040. Denver’s City Council[10] on May 11 will consider a minor amendment to the lease that would allow National Western to explore alternatives to its existing location but will not release it from the contract, Finlaw said, adding that the next administration will have to address the issue.

Mejia is one of nine candidates[11] running for mayor in Tuesday’s election.

Candidate, Chris Romer[12], issued a brief statement about the stock show move:

“The National Western Stock Show is a Denver economic and cultural cornerstone. In my 25 years of business experience I have worked on a number of similar projects, including Union Station here in Denver. I know how to bring together both businesses and the community to work towards a solution, and as Mayor I look forward to the challenge of getting this done. I’ll work with stakeholders to ensure the National Western remains a Denver-based national attraction, bringing jobs, tourism dollars and attention to our community.”

Candidate Michael Hancock also issued a brief statement:

The National Western Stock Show is a beloved Colorado institution. I am excited about plans to create a new permanent home for the Stock Show as we must ensure it has the opportunity to grow and remain an integral part of the fabric and spirit of Denver. While I have not seen the details for this specific plan, I believe it is imperative that the development be a multipurpose complex with the ability to become a year-round destination in Colorado.

Further, this plan presents an opportunity to redevelop the existing site of the Stock Show. With the partnership of the neighbors, we can create an area that best serves the community surrounding the former Stock Show site. To have sustainable economic growth, we must ensure that we have well-thought plans to support these transitions, so that no neighborhood is left behind.